Yob chase driver faces ban

A MAN who drove after a gang of yobs while he was over the limit is set to lose his licence. Dean Harrison, who works as a driver, had escaped a ban after magistrates ruled there was a `special reason' for him to drive. But the decision has been overturned by High Court judges and he now face at least a 12-month ban from the road.

But yesterday, Lord Justice Latham and Mr Justice Davis, sitting in London's High Court, ruled the magistrates had been wrong not to ban him and remitted the case back to them, with a direction that he is banned.

Judge Latham said: "He could have asked one of the neighbours to drive him or he could have chased after the youths on foot.

"It cannot be said that there was no option open to him but to pursue them in his car.

"Importantly, he had been advised by the police to stay in his home and he chose to ignore that advice. The justices could not properly find that special reasons existed in this case."

Mr Harrison will receive a minimum 12-month driving ban when he appears at magistrates for re-sentencing.

After the ruling, he said: "What upsets me is that I'm protecting my house and I'm the one who ends up getting taken by the police.

"Work has been absolutely brilliant with me giving me time off to see my solicitor but I think if I don't have a licence I don't have a job, it's as simple as that."